Georgia lets officials pay small unclaimed cash without a claim

The commissioner may pay an owner without a claim. The property must be cash, held solely by a verified individual, and worth no more than $500 per property. The payment must first be applied to any unpaid state tax liability. The department may review tax records to verify identity. The 120-day restriction applies to recovery agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2026, for property reported and delivered to the commissioner; those agreements cannot be enforced during the 120 days after payment or delivery.

The commissioner must pay or deliver an approved claim by electronic transfer or check. The payment is the property or amount the commissioner actually received, or the net proceeds if the property was sold. Any unpaid state tax liability must be paid first.

A qualifying heir may claim without a probate court order by filing an affidavit. The claimant must be an adult spouse, child, parent, or sibling of the deceased owner. The department must hold no more than $7,500 in total unclaimed property for the owner, and no Georgia probate case may be pending or have been filed in the past. All heirs must sign and state they agreed on the estate division and that funeral, last illness, and other lawful estate expenses have been paid. The affidavit must include information reasonably needed to determine entitlement. If the owner left a will, include a copy. Recipients remain personally liable for lawful estate claims up to the value received, except property protected from creditors; an heir who did not receive a share may seek it in court.

The commissioner may delay publishing notice of certain business interests until they are delivered. The interests include stocks and shares in business associations. This applies to business interests reported to the commissioner but not yet received by the commissioner.